The first aircraft to cross the Atlantic has arrived in Lisbon. The skyline is dominated by the Panteão Nacional, the dome of which was not completed until 1966. Photo from: Biblioteca Central de Marinha

Preparing for the first flight across the Atlantic, via the Azores. The NC-3 had to land in the ocean but taxied to the Azores. The NC-4, A-2294, made it to Lisbon and Plymouth. Photo from: Bibliothèque nationale de France - Gallica

Set out on a transatlantic flight to France in May 1919 with three other NC flying boats. A2291 alighted short of the Azores and sank. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

This seaplane has a truely unique place in avaition history being the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic. Three aircraft from Seaplane Division One set off on 8th May 1919 from NAS Rockaway on the crossing via Halifax and the Azores but only this NC-4 touched down in the waters of Lisbon harbour nineteen days later. Now on display at the wonderful National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.

Curtiss Model 12 (NC) flying boat - the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic. 8-31st May, 1919

This large four-engined patrol flying boat was the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic. Between 8 May and 31 May 1919 it flew from New York with intermediate stops to Newfoundland then across to the Azores and on to Lisbon and to Plymouth, England. It was returned by sea and is now preserved at the NMNA at Pensacola.